After a June incident in which he was accused of hitting and shaking children during the night at a football camp, former Westview football coach Jamal Jones will not be subject to any criminal penalties.
Circuit Judge Ladd Wiles of Yamhill County dismissed the two more harassment charges against Jones on Wednesday and cleared him of ten prior harassment offenses.
Following the state’s presentation of evidence, Jones’s attorney, Bracken McKey, filed a request for judgment of acquittal. The motion was approved by Wiles.
Jones was arrested on 12 counts of harassment last summer after reportedly waking up players at 1 a.m. on June 25 while the Westview football team was at Linfield University. Jones was 32 at the time of the incident. Both coaches and athletes reported that Jones was slapping and shaking pupils awake while crawling over them.
Jones admitted to officers on the scene that he had had four large beers before the altercation, according to the probable cause affidavit.
When a parent alerted authorities while they were en route to pick up their child, McMinnville police were dispatched to the area at 4:30 a.m.
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Jones works for the Hillsboro Police Department as a police officer. On the morning of the event, Hillsboro police reviewed Jones’ actions internally and put him on administrative leave.
According to a Hillsboro Police spokesman who spoke to The Oregonian/OregonLive, the department supports the integrity of the criminal justice system. The judge’s acquittal ruling today marked the end of that process.
On June 26, Jones announced his resignation as football coach at Westview.
In a statement released by McKey, Jones said, “I’m grateful for the prayers and support I’ve received from friends and family, as well as that my attorney believed in me.” I can’t wait to move on from this and resume my work.
A lawsuit filed by the mother of one of the students who was awakened by Jones was settled in January with the Beaverton School District for $50,000. Jones was not named in the lawsuit.
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–Nik Streng investigates Oregon high school athletics. You may contact him at @NikStreng or [email protected].
